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Chapter 19
One week after his nephew’s birth, he was still in Lake Howling and clueless as to why. Standing where the new facility was going to be erected, Ryan looked at the cleared space and tried to imagine it. Mac had the plans up in the Roar, and they looked good.
“Ryan, how’s Brody and Hope?”
“Doing real well, thanks, Hank.” He raised a hand to Mrs. C’s husband, who she worshipped even plenty of years on from their first date.
“Be over in a few days to visit.”
“I’ll tell her.”
And with Hank and Mrs. C would come more casseroles for the freezer and baking that included cupcakes with flowers.
“See you later at the talent show. I hear you’re judging, and I’m not the type to buy off a judge, but my girl is pretty awesome.”
“She’s something special, all right.”
Hank smiled, raised a hand, then left.
Ryan was accepted here; it was that simple, and yes, humbling. He’d left for eleven years, and they’d just let him back into their lives without question. Why had he thought they wouldn’t?
Hope and Brody were home now, and his nephew was just about the best little human he’d ever met. Funny how that whole family connection thing worked. The baby had been in his life a total of seven days, and he couldn’t imagine life without him. What really surprised him was how Hope had taken to being a mother. She totally rocked at it.
Okay, she did have the world’s most hands-on and organized partner at her side, but still. She was doing awesomely well. He was proud of her.
“You envisioning?” Mikey said as he wandered up. The kid was messing about with a guitar and good at it, so Ryan had spent a few hours playing with him.
“Big word for an early hour, Mikey, but yes, I was envisioning the facility here.”
“I have a high intellect like Branna.”
“Yeah? Nice work. That mean you’re just way smarter at cheating in tests?”
His lips twitched. “How’s Brody and Hope?”
“Good. I was sent into town to do a supply run for diapers and other stuff.”
“I’m going to see her today with Branna and Rose. Jake’s looking after the baby.”
“He’s pretty cute. Probably the cutest kid I’ve ever seen,” Ryan said.
“Everyone says that about theirs, but Rose was pretty cute.”
“Still is.”
“She’s going to be trouble,” Mikey said. “She already gets her own way too much, and Branna and Jake are going to have their hands full when she grows up.”
“You sound about sixty,” Ryan said.
“I’m responsible.”
“I’m sure even at your responsible age you still have the capability of being a bit loose now and again.”
“Maybe, but I’m saying that Rose knows how to work people, and we gotta watch out for that.”
“You pass that on to Jake. I’m sure he’ll be real happy to get parenting advice from you.”
“I will, but gotta go. Bye, Ryan. Thanks for judging the talent show tonight. Deano and I have been practicing hard on what you taught us. I think this may be our night.”
